Zane pulled back to look at me. Electric blue spots flickered in his eyes like a lamp trying to turn on. “We find the pieces of the Triad. We use it to create more orbs, and we try to rebuild an army of Carriers to fight Nightflesh. That’s our only chance at winning.”

“We don’t have time to do that anymore.”

Bells clattered at the foot of the bed and Lucas and Kaley stilled. “Leave us.”

Zane’s jaw tightened, but Lucas tugged the fabric of his shoulder to lead him away. My gaze followed them to the branch entryway. Lucas cast me a look on the way out and patted his fork-and-knife-stuffed pocket, but the Queen of the Pines dwarfed me in her shadow, stealing back my attention.

The queen drifted around my bed, her eyes as gray as rock. The wax candles in the wreath atop her head were unlit now. Silvery strings wrapped the garland, and flecks of gold clung to the pine needles. For a split second, I imagined grabbing the Crown of Pines and running. My fingers twitched, but I dropped my stare to the queen’s kohl-lined eyes as she tilted her head.

She looked like her brother. Despite the contrast of their gold-versus-silver eyes, she and Edward had the same jaw and dark hair. An embellished, metal ring hung from her nose today.

“Who did you hear, yesternight?” she asked.

My mouth went dry. I glanced off to come up with something, but she spoke again. “I hear him also,” she whispered. “The blackness knocks at the door of my mind day and night. I worry I won’t be able to resist him much longer.”

I opened my mouth a few times, but no response came. I thought I’d misheard her.

“He’s followed you here.” Her low voice pebbled my skin, but I nodded in agreement, clutching my bedsheets.

“How do you resist him?” I rasped.

Her gray eyes burrowed into me, and I shrank beneath the weight of her stare. “I don’t know, Lady of the East.”

My gaze darted up to the crown resting atop her head—Elowin’s crown.

The Queen of the Pines rose, her bell-covered dress clinking as she moved. Cutting me one last glance, she left, her four Axemen following her out.

I tore the sheets off my warm legs and stood. In the window above my bed, I saw the reflection of a girl with swollen, bloodshot eyes, wildly messy hair, shaking hands, and a frown. It was a familiar look.

Screams erupted from the hall, and Eliot raced through the entryway gripping a butterknife like he was ready to use it. I stumbled back against the bed, but when he reached me, he held out his hand.

“A Ruby Legion division has reached the castle,” he said. “There’s a quarrel outside!”